The 73-year-old "The Hobbit" star opened up to The Daily Mirror about his diagnosis, and also revealed that in addition to his hearing problems and cataract, he's been living with prostate cancer "for six or seven years."

“You are going to write ‘Ian McKellen is decrepit. He can’t see, he can’t hear he can’t pee, he’s having his teeth done,'” he told the UK paper, joking about his afflictions, which is fitting since he doesn't seem too worried about his health problems.

“When you have got [cancer] you monitor it and you have to be careful it doesn’t spread. But if it is contained in the prostate it’s no big deal," he explained. “Many, many men die from it but it’s one of the cancers that is totally treatable so I have ‘waitful watching.' I am examined regularly and it’s just contained, it’s not spreading. I’ve not had any treatment.”

The actor looked quite healthy at the premiere of "The Hobbit," and McKellen recently told The Huffington Post that despite his age, he didn't feel it would have been easier to film the movie 10 years ago.

"Maybe they were providing support I wasn't aware of, just thinking about it. But I don't think so. I never took advantage of the buggy carts that would take you to the set if you needed it. It was the dwarfs who did that -- poor things carrying the heavy weight of their armor and their padding and so on. And their prosthetics. No, I could still manage it," he said, adding that he didn't have to do anything too strenuous:

"But, actually, being a film actor is a bit of a doddle. You're looked after every inch of the way. You're taken up by helicopter to the top of some mountain that no human being has ever climbed because you're in the wilds of New Zealand and, there, you'll be treated a three-course meal that would grace a really expensive restaurant down below. [Laughs] There are even clean and serviceable loos for you to use. And someone to help you dress ... no, no -- it's pretty easy. But I don't get any special treatment because everyone gets well treated."

I did not say that I think wishing a disease on someone is the worst thing you could ever do. I am obviously of the opinion that murders and rapes and molestations are far worse. That's the reason murder and rape and abuse are against the law. Thinking bad thoughts isn't against the law and naturally it shouldn't be since freedom of speech is the foundation to a democracy. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and their own opinions and I am stating mine: I think that equaling animal abuse to an awful disease is wrong.

Yeah I get that it's a way to get frustration out, but I always get uncomfortable when people wish diseases and death on other people. And people on ONTD comment and criticize on what other people think all the time, how is my comment different? And how is it über bizarre of me telling someone else not to wish bad things on people? If one of my friends said something like that, I would definitely comment on it. I can't forbid anyone not to have certain thoughts, but I can say what my opinion on the matter is.

But yeah, keep on thinking negative thoughts if that's what you want to do. Like I said, you are entitled to your own opinion and your own thoughts.

I have no issue with you stating your opinion (although expect to get called out on it, obviously). What I had a problem with was you telling someone else they aren't entitled to theirs because it didn't agree with yours.

You believe it's wrong to think negative thoughts? Fine. You're above thinking negative thoughts? Ten-four. But don't tell other people that they shouldn't, especially people who have been wronged and are more entitled to feelings of rage and venting their frustration than the people who wronged them are entitled to concern.

Okay yeah, I shouldn't have told them they should or shouldn't do something. I admit I was in the wrong.

I'm not above thinking negative thoughts. Obviously I have them, but I don't think they lead anywhere good. I get that people deal with things different ways though, and if you have been raped and a way of dealing with that is wishing death upon your rapist, then fine. As long as you get through it and become a happier person afterward.

Like I said, it just makes me massively uncomfortable when people wish death and disease upon other people. Especially someone like an animal abuser. I should have worded it differently though, and not tried to tell someone else what they should think and force my opinions onto them.

...This is totally an aside but I'm having the biggest sense of deja-vu right now. Have you and I had this conversation before? I feel like we have. lol

I get that. And I mean, it's not like I don't *know* that wishing bad things on people is, you know, probably not right, but there are days when I seriously can't be arsed and give no fucks. And for me, as long as you don't act on violent thoughts, we good.

idts? I think this is the first "serious" ONTD convo I've ever been a part of so ... lmao.

Yeah, I know. I honestly shouldn't sound so snotty & like I'm "above" people who think like that, because just last year there was this horrible dude I wished some awful things on. I get that it's so frustrating when you can't do anything about your situation, and my situation with this man was even a mild one, not a life-changing one like rape.

And yes ia, as long as you don't act on those violent thoughts, it's okay. I just think that in some cases thinking about and hating someone so much instead of focusing on other things can actually lead to people acting on those thoughts in different ways. I know that's rare, though.

Yeah, I mean letting violence and rage consume you is one thing, but a comment here or there, an expression of frustration is totally understandable imo. And so many people who are victims don't know how to deal with shit that's happened to them, I just can't begrudge anyone that sort of outlet, you know?

Yeah I totally understand what you're saying. People definitely deal with things differently, and as long no one gets hurt in the process and they feel better at the end, that's the main thing. It's hard to put yourself in other people's shoes sometimes.